Adjustable cam mount for knitting machines



July 16, 1940. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,208,307

ADJUSTABLE CAM MOUNT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l FICA].

July 16, 1940. R. H. LAWSON ET AL ADJUSTABLE CAM MOUNT FOR KNITTDIG MACHINES Filed July 9, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 54/70/25; P055137]! M W501i; ARTHUR AQL'L 0UTJE1E} f y 7t A TTy.

July 16, 1940. I LAWSON ET AL 2,208,307

ADJUSTABLE CAM MOUNT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 3 sheets-sheet 5 Filed July 9, 1935 j' YI ENTMES:

Ebzwerflimsom Amy/215A! 62007135;

ATTy.

Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CAM MOUNT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, and Arthur N. Cloutier, Lonsdale, R. I., assignors to Hcmphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 9, 1935 Serial No. 30,476

In Canada July 10, 1934 '7 Claims.

This case is concerned with an adjustable mounting for the cam block of a knitting machine, more especially cam blocks for use in the split-foot type knitting machines wherein certain portions of the fabric are knitted in arotary manner and other portions in a reciprocatory manner.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the invention as applied to a split-foot knitting machine, enough of that machine being shown to properly associate the invention therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, showing the auxiliary cam block and adjusting mechanism as seen from above;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the invention as seen from the inside of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the knitting cam and the path of needle butts passing therethrough;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing in detail the connection between the cam block assembly and the fashioning bar;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modification;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of themodiw ilcation shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the cams, being similar to Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 8-9, Fig. 6.

In knitting machines which knit fabric by relative rotation of needles and cams at times, and by reciprocating one or the other of these elements at other times, very accurate adjustment n of the stitch drawing cams must be made so that the stitches drawn by one of the cams will appear to be of the same length as stitches drawn by the other or opposed cam. When assembling the cams and their block in a new machine, the cams may be adjusted to accurate distances above the cam carrying plate but when the machine is started up, due to other irregularities such as misalignment between said plate and the plane of rotation of the needle cylinder, equal length stitches will not be drawn. The mechanism herein described provides an easy and accurate means of adjusting said cam assembly without disturbing any oi. its other functions so that equal length stitches will be drawn.

. After the machine has been operated for some 60 length of time unequal wear is bound to occur in the cams so that from time to time, slight adjustment must be made to maintain proper stitch length in adjacent courses when knitting in a reciprocatory manner. This control of stitch length during reciprocation is very essential when knitting split-foot stockings, especially so in knitting the instep of such stockings wherein that instep is knitted of the same yarn which was used to knit the leg portion, and by the same cams.

The invention has been illustrated with respect to the auxiliary cam set of a Banner type, splitfoot machine wherein the leg and instep are knitted at the auxiliary side and of the same yarn. The description is to be taken as illustrative of one embodiment of the invention which is by no means limited to use in split-foot machines nor is it limited to the auxiliary side of such machines. The invention is useful wherever opposed stitch cams are used for knitting during reciprocatory work.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the circular base I and needle cylinder 2 of a split-foot knitting machine are shown. The main cam block is generally indicated by numeral 3 and is mounted to be vertically moved for purposes of fashioning 20 and to be withdrawn from active position at certain times all in a manner similar to that shown and described in Canadian Patent 337,677. This main cam block is slidably attached to plate 4 which also has fixed thereto, front needle raise 25 cam 6.

An auxiliary cam block is shown at the opposite side of Fig. 1 and has stitch drawing cams 6 and I, center cam 8 and needle raise cam 9, the latter preferably being formed in two parts. The two parts of the raise cam in effect constitute separate cams, each of which functions with one of the stitch cams, see Figs. 4 and 8. The stitch cams and center cams are attached to a block I0 which slides radially of the machine in a guideway formed between cam plate H and clamps 42, better shown in Fig. 2. The key l3 serves to guide the block so that it will slide radially in a definite pathway. The mechanism for moving this cam block towards and from the cylinder is not shown since it is well known and has been shown in the patent above mentioned. Center cam 8 may be individually moved toand fromactive position by the usual method.

Cams 6 and l are attached to the side of cam block W in such a manner that they may be adjusted in a vertical direction. When setting up the machine the cam block is placed upon a fiat surface and a gage of the proper height is used to set these cams at equal distances from the same flat surface. The needle raise cam 9 is adjustably attached to cam plate ii and the spacing between this cam and the stitch cams is such that needle butts passing between the two have just suiiicient space so that they pass without undue friction and no over-travel of a needle is posslblel Cam plate Ii is secured to a supporting member it which is adapted to be adjusted about a pivot point It.

As was shown in the Canadian patent above mentioned, this auxiliary cam assembly is capa= ble of being moved in a vertical direction for purposes of changing stitch length when fashioning or for other reasons, said vertical-motion being imparted by means of a suitable fashioning cam. An elongated bracket 18 having integral extensions H and I8 extending therefrom at its upper end is attached to circular i. by means of these extensions. This bracket also has an angular projecting arm is which terminates in a bearing member 20. This bearing 2b is permanently connected to some suitable part of the machine frame or extension thereof. Bracket is has a groove machined lengthwise thereof which in cooperation with plates ti and as attached by suitable screws or bolts at the grooved side of said bracket, complete a rectangular guideway within which a bar 28 is adapted to slide vertically. This bar is pivotally attached at It to a supporting member it. Referring to Fig. 5, the connection between the two, in the form of a shouldered screw 25 hearing within the bar and threaded into said support, may be seen.

Bar 23 is capable of being adjusted in a vertical direction by means of an adjusting screw 25 having a collar 2t thereon which bears on the upper side of a plate 26' permanently attached' to the lower end of bracket it. Said screw is threaded to engage a tapped hole in the lower end of bar 2 3 and has a knurled thumb piece 27 secured to its lower projecting end. A spring 28 bears against a washer 2d and also against the thumb piece. This spring maintains the auxiliary cam assembly in its adjusted position, but at the same time, allows it to move upwardly when so moved by the fashioning cam (not shown) or in case of any abnormal operation. A clamping screw 8t serves to lock screw 25 in an adjusted position. A slot 8! has been cut in bracket It adjacent screw 38 for the purpose of allowing that screw to be moved vertically with bar 28 when that bar is adjusted and during vertical motion of said bar for the purpose of fashioning. A pin 82 is threaded into her 23 and, projects through a slot in the front side of bracket it, said pin being engaged by a lever which is in turn operated from the fashioning cam. An angular bracket 38 ofiset to form an attaching portion 3% is secured by means of bolts or screws to bar 28. The supporting member it has an extension projecting therefrom which carries an adjusting screw 35 threaded therein and in alignment with the vertical portion of element 33. A- spring 8? is attached at its lower end to a screw as threaded within bracket 83 and at its upper end to a screw as projecting from extension 35. This spring has sumcient tension to maintain extension or arm 85 downwardly toward bracket M as faras adjusting screw 36 which abuts against this bracket, will allow. Adjusting screw 80 is provided with a knurled wheel 40 by means of which it may be turned, said wheel having graduations thereon which cooperate with a fixed pointer ii to enable the operator to gage extremely fine adjustments.

when setting up the machine cams 8 and I are set at the proper height on their block as has been explained above and the block is then o,aoe,aov

assembled in the machine and approximate adjustment is made by means of knurled wheel 40. Fabric will be knit and further adjustments made until equal length stitches are being drawn during reciprocations in both directions. It may be seen that since cams 8-8 are permanently attached to a unitary structure mounted on support it, rocking of this support about its pivot does not aifect relative adjustment or positions of cams, and clearance between stitch cams and needle raise cam remains constant. After a period of time one of the stitch cams is likely to become worn more than the opposite cam so that a slight adjustment by means of screw 36 will ally adjusted upon block iii and then, adjustment of support It resorted to for equalizing stitch length.

In Figsed, 7, 8 and-9 is shown a modification of the means for effecting relative adjustments of the stitch drawing cams 8 and l hereinbefore described. In the said figures where the parts shown are identical with those shown inFigs. 1-5 inclusive, the same reference characters are used and where substituted or modified parts are shown, prime characters are used.

Instead of effecting relative adjustments of the cams 8 and .i by the mechanisms herelnbefore disclosed, the same result is obtained by splitting the cam block it into two parts, ill and it", the latter and consequently the cam 6 being vertically adjustable with respect to the cam l oiv the cam block it to which it is attached. The downward adjustments of the knurled headed screw til causes the lever 62 to be rocked on its pivot d3 said pivot being shown as comprising a pin or screw carried by that portion of the bracket i6 opposite bar 28'. The other arm of the lever 62 is always in contact with a pin 44 made fast to the relatively movable bar or extension of the cam block it" designated by the numeral 23". A spring 66 attached at $8 to the extension 23" and at its other end at 61 to the plate 2! maintains the pin it in engagement with the lever 52. The pin it which is fast to the extension 23'' is limited in its vertical movements by a slot QB provided in the bracket it. The cam plate i I is connected to and carried by supporting member it which is made fast to the bar 28' as by screws, and likewise the relatively movable cam plate ii" is carried by supporting member it" which in turn is fastened as by screws tothe vertically adjustable bar 23. To assist in maintaining the cam blocks i0 and ID" in their proper relative positions, the cam block ill is provided with a key 49 fitting within a keyway 50 provided in the adjacent face of the cam. block Ill".- Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the cam 9" is provided with a tongue 5i fitting within a recess 52 in the cam 9', a clearance ill being provided to permit the relative adjustments of the two cams, the tongue and cam 9' are beveled as at. 64 to avoid breaking of the needle butts. 7

All of the cams for efl'ecting the movement of the needles, jacks, etc., have not been illustrated, the needles, jacks,-etc., being acted upon by cams in a manner similar to that shown in Canadian Patent No. 337,677.

While the invention has been described in more or less specific terms and in relation to two particular embodiments of the same, we do not intend to limit ourselves by the specific disclosure but only by-the express limitations of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, a cam block, stitch drawing cams on-said cam block adapted to draw stitches during rotary knitting and also during reciprocatory knitting in both directions, a pivotal support for said cam block, and an abutment on said knitting machine, adjusting means on said support and engaging said abutment whereby the support may. be rocked about its pivot, and resilient means for maintaining said adjusting means in contact with said abutment.

2. In a circular knitting machine, a cam block, stitch drawing cams on said cam block adapted to draw stitches during rotary knitting and also during reciprocatory knitting in both directions, a pivotal support for said cam block, and extension on one end of said support having an adjusting screw threaded therein, an abutment on said knitting machine upon which said adjusting screw bears and a spring connected at one end to said extension and at the other end to said machine for maintaining said adjusting screw in firm contact with said abutment thus holding said cam block and its support in a predetermined angular relationship.

3. The combination on a circular knitting ma chine of a cam block, stitch cams on said cam block and a needle raise cam extending beneath each stitch cam, and forming a unitary structure with said block, a support for said block. said support being pivotally mounted and having means associated therewith for adjusting it angularly about its pivot, whereby the relative heights of stitch cams and their respective cooperating raise cam surfaces may be varied.

4. The combination in a circular knitting machine of a cam block, stitch cams on said cam block and a needle raise cam extending beneath each stitch cam and forming a unitary structure with said block, the stitch cams and raise cams being spaced from each other only a distance necessary for needle butts to pass freely between them, a support for said block, said support being pivotally mounted and having means associated therewith for adjusting it angularly about its pivot, whereby the relative heights of stitch camsand their respective cooperating raise cam surfaces may be varied.

5. In a circular knitting machine, a cam block, stitch drawing cams on said cam block adapted to draw stitches during rotary knitting and also during reciprocatory knitting in both directions, a movable support for a part at least of said cam block and an abutment on said knitting machine, adjusting means on said support for engaging said abutment whereby the position of the support is determined by engagement of the adjusting means with said abutment.

6. In a circular knitting machine, a cam block, stitch drawing cams on said cam block adapted to draw stitches during rotary knitting and also during reciprocatory knitting in both directions,

a movable support for a part at least of said cam block and an abutment on said knitting machine, adjusting means on said support for engaging said abutment whereby the position of the support is determined by engagement of the adjusting means with said abutment, and resilient means for maintaining said adjusting means in contact with said abutment.

7. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a cam block, stitch drawing cams on said cam block adapted to draw stitches during rotary and reciprocatory knitting, a needle raise cam beneath each of the stitch cams so constructed that needle butts passing between a stitch cam and raise cam will be accurately controlled, a support for said cam block constructed so that opposite stitch and raise cams may be adjusted relatively to one another without disturbing the operative relationship between cooperating stitch and raise cams, means whereby said cams and block may be moved to and from active position, and other means for bodily raising said support whereby the'length of stitch may be varied, said two means last mentioned functioning independently of the means for imparting relative adjustment to the stitch and raise cams.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. ARTHUR N. CLOU'I'IER. 

